Odd I'm seeing just the opposite buzz on other sites. The production staff is already casting extras to play famous historical media and political figures, which seems to put it pretty far along in the casting process. And whats with the slight on V for Vendetta? I think that was one of the best comic book adaptations in decades.

No shit, I'd like to hear your complaints about V. It was consumable, watchable, hit the main points of the story. You can't expect a perfect retelling ala Sin City with every film, but V rates as one of my favorite films from last year, behind tough competition in Pans Labyrinth and Children of Men.


To the subject at hand, however, Watchmen is too much for the movie medium. Gibbon's art is rich with subtle nuance and infinitesimal (and sometimes overt) forshadowing and Moore's story is so complex, that no matter how it's done, it will be a cheap imitation.

I agree that Watchmen may indeed be too much for the screen. So much of it relies so wholly on the medium of print that I would be amazed to see a good screen translation. I'm still holding out hope, but I worry....

As for V, the problem with the cowardly movie translation is that so much of the teeth of the story were pulled. Also, rather than leaving it a timeless piece on totalitarianism versus freedom, it was changed into a cloying piece rooted directly in the current perceived "clash of the civilizations" of east and west with the whole Koran nonsense that was throw in. Is it too much to ask that when movie makers adapt timeless works held up as masterpieces created by the virtuosos of their genres, that they just leave the central themes alone and worry about logistical adaptation issues?

Actually I liked how they adopted the main themes of the book to our current political situations. It made the film far more powerful. I read the graphic novel after having seen the film, and I must say I enjoyed the film even more afterward. I think the characters in the film were far more vibrant than those in the book. Myself, I dont see the Watchmen being that difficult to adapt to a film medium. If they keep to the central story rather than meander all over the landscape like Moore does in the comic then it should be fairly easy. We'll see. Personally I dont care whether Moore likes it or not. The guy is a prima donna who cant stand to see his stories fiddled with, but all too readily accepts the checks.

What checks are you talking about? Last I checked Moore didn't ever have an merchandise produced for any of his comics despite the large demand. I don't see that as the actions of a man who happily takes money like you suggest. If I remember correctly wasn't there a Watchman script out about a year or two ago that Alan Moore really liked?

Actually, Moore refused to take any money for V for Vendetta, nor did he want his name attached to it. He also will not accept money for the Watchmen adaptation, nor will he allow his name to be attached to the movie version, as far as I understand it.

Actually Moore took a nice fat check for V when he originally sold the rights twenty years ago, and was happy to do so. Same with From Hell. It's not til they actually make a film that doesnt follow his book word for word that he gets all uppity.